Set up an operating room in minutes? Even never need drape, dock, or move heavy equipment?
Sure! One of Lily Bearing’s clients can make it come true.
This client created the world’s first miniaturized RAS platform.
The platform makes every operating room be ready within minutes, which can bring convenience for more patients and surgeons.
The RAS platform needs smaller bearing sizes.
One important kind of such bearings is RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings, which are designed to offer superior performance and reliability, even in the most demanding applications such as the client’s operating applications.
What Bearings Are Used in Miniaturized Surgical Robot Platforms?
Miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) platforms rely on thin-section turntable bearings, not standard ball bearings, because the rotating joints need to fit into a very small envelope while still carrying radial, axial, and moment loads at the same time. RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings are a common choice for this role: they combine a four-point contact ball design with an external gear ring, so a single compact bearing can support the load-bearing and rotation function that would otherwise require multiple standard bearings and more space.
Coating Options Available
According to the specific size, loads, design requirements and a series of other data provided by the client, the engineering team from Lily Bearing provided some solutions, that is, RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings with the stainless steel coating and RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings with 52100 Chrome Steel coating.
Coating Option | Corrosion Resistance | Relative Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Stainless Steel | Highest — resists rust even under frequent washdown or sterilization | Higher | Applications with frequent washdown, humidity, or strict hygiene requirements |
52100 Chrome Steel (coated) | Good — the additional coating prevents rusting on the inner wall under wet conditions | More economical | Cost-sensitive designs where moderate corrosion protection is sufficient |
The client selected the 52100 Chrome Steel option — the more economical of the two — since it still met the corrosion requirements for their platform.
These customized high-quality bearings can minimize wear and improve performance.
RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings
Unique Design and Structural Advantages
In terms of the structure, Lily’s RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings are based on a sealed four-point contact ball bearing.
They belong to the design with external gears.
RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings have a unique inner and outer ring geometry structure with a unique "gothic arch" raceway and one-piece separators.
The design can both ensure low frictional torque and bear radial, axial and moment loads at the same time.
RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings are shipped pre-lubricated and available at any time.
They are easy to install. Just position them on the mounting face and tighten them down with mounting screws.
Improvements Over Traditional Bearings
Compared with traditional turntable bearings, RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings are extremely thin, and their gears are extra miniature with special structures and have very dense teeth, which makes manufacturing rather difficult.
In face of the challenges, Lily’s engineering team tried to reduce weight and envelope sizes of bearings but also increase the flexibility of the design.
The following diagram shows the advantages of RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings.
Enhanced Efficiency and Stability
In a word, RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings can increase torque and reduce resistance, allowing the miniaturized RAS platform to increase its operating efficiency, and can also ensure greater balance - meaning less vibration and smoother operation during operation – resulting in quieter running machinery of the surgical platform during operation.
Want to go deeper on sizing and installation? See our full Guide to Reali-Slim TT Turntable Bearings, browse our Stainless Steel Bearings for corrosion-resistant options, or explore more Medical Bearings content on our blog.
FAQs
What is a RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearing?
A RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearing is a thin-section, sealed four-point contact ball bearing with an external gear ring and a "gothic arch" raceway. It supports radial, axial, and moment loads at once while keeping frictional torque low, which is why it's used where a compact rotating joint needs to carry combined loads.
Are surgical bearings made of stainless steel?
Not always. Stainless steel offers the strongest corrosion resistance and is preferred where washdown or sterilization is frequent, but coated 52100 chrome steel is also used in surgical and medical devices as a more economical option when it still meets the required corrosion protection.
What makes turntable bearings suitable for medical devices?
Their thin-section, unitized design lets a single bearing handle rotation and combined loads in a small envelope, which fits the space constraints of medical devices. Pre-lubrication and simple mounting-face installation also reduce assembly time and contamination risk during device manufacturing.
Have questions about RealiSlim TT Turntable Bearings? Send an Inquiry!
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